By Elliot Bradley

A CHILDREN'S nursery in East Lancashire has been targeted by thieves overnight.

Rachel Smalley, deputy manager of Clayton-le-Moors preschool, based at the Civic Hall on Pickup Street, discovered a storeroom door had been damaged when she arrived this morning.

She said: “When I went into the kitchen, one of the drawers was open which I thought was strange, so I checked the store room door and found it had been forced open.

“We send our money to the bank at the end of the week so I checked our tin and found all the money had gone. It’s probably around £50 to £70 that’s been taken.”

The nursery is a not-for-profit organisation for children aged between two and four years old.

Mrs Smalley added: “It’s very disheartening. All the money we have goes to the children, we rely on donations.”

Police confirmed they were called at about 9am today and are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call 01772 614444, quoting incident number 0287 dated January 18.

Police were also called to another nursery in Hyndburn on the same night, after a broken window was discovered by staff at the Heathland Private School Nursery in Accrington.

Police say it is not believed access was gained to the building.